← Back to US Funders Directory

M & T Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$40.0M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $40 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 8 weeks minimum
  • Grant Range: Varies by program; $25,000 - $150,000 for Amplify Fund
  • Geographic Focus: 12 states across eastern U.S. (Maine to Virginia) and Washington, D.C.
  • Total Grants: 3,306 awards in 2022

Contact Details

Main Office: M&T Charitable Foundation 575 Main Street, 12th Floor Buffalo, NY 14203 Phone: (716) 848-3804 Website: https://www.mtb.com/about-us/getting-involved/giving-back/charitable-foundation Online Application Portal: https://mtb.versaic.com/login

Leadership:

  • Dominique Goss, Executive Vice President & Executive Director
  • Shelley C. Drake, Chair, President & Director
  • Joseph B. Cassidy, Vice President & Grants Manager

Regional Contacts:

Overview

Founded in 1993, the M&T Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank Corporation, headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Over its 30-year history, the Foundation has distributed more than $534 million to thousands of nonprofit organizations across its 12-state footprint spanning the eastern United States from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Currently awarding nearly $40 million annually to approximately 3,300 organizations, the Foundation operates with the mission "to partner with communities to impact equitable change." In 2022, the Foundation made significant news by appointing Dominique Goss as Executive Director, bringing a renewed focus on equity, diversity, and community-centered philanthropy. The Foundation emphasizes local decision-making, with regional program officers who understand their communities' unique needs. Recent initiatives include the three-year, $25 million Amplify Fund addressing inequities in financial inclusion and economic opportunity, and the 30 & 30 Initiative commemorating the Foundation's 30th anniversary with $900,000 in grants to address homelessness and affordable housing.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grantmaking (Rolling basis)

  • Application method: Online portal, rolling applications accepted year-round
  • Grant amounts vary based on program scope and organizational capacity
  • Organizations can submit multiple requests for different programs
  • Requires 8-week lead time for decision

Amplify Fund (Completed 2025)

  • Three-year, $25 million commitment focused on addressing inequities
  • Grant range: $25,000 - $150,000 annually
  • Focused on financial inclusion, economic growth, homeownership, small business development, entrepreneurship, career growth, and financial resilience
  • Served New England, Long Island, and Westchester County, NY
  • Final round concluded April 2025

30 & 30 Initiative (2024)

  • Special initiative commemorating Foundation's 30th anniversary
  • 30 grants of $30,000 each ($900,000 total)
  • Focus: Homelessness prevention and affordable housing development in low- to moderate-income communities
  • Geographic spread across entire M&T footprint

Community Sponsorship Program

  • Supports fundraising events and community initiatives
  • Separate application track from programmatic grants
  • 8-week decision timeline

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports organizations in five core areas:

  • Arts & Culture: Museums, performing arts, cultural institutions
  • Civic Affairs: Community development, social justice initiatives, civic engagement
  • Education: Youth development, educational access, workforce training
  • Health Care: Health access, wellness programs, public health initiatives
  • Human Services: Social services, basic needs, family support programs

Strategic Focus Under Current Leadership:

  • Equity and addressing systemic inequities
  • Financial inclusion and economic opportunity for low- and moderate-income communities
  • Underserved populations and communities of human diversity
  • Affordable housing and homelessness prevention
  • Small business development and entrepreneurship
  • Community organizing and capacity building

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation explicitly excludes:

  • Individuals fundraising
  • Political organizations or lobbying activities
  • Scholarships directly to individuals
  • K-12 public schools
  • Religious organizations (for sectarian purposes)
  • Sports teams
  • Organizations that discriminate based on any protected characteristic

Governance and Leadership

Dominique Goss, Executive Vice President & Executive Director (appointed July 2022) Goss leads the Foundation's strategic direction with a focus on equity and community-centered philanthropy. She has stated: "M&T's commitment to the communities it serves is remarkable and inspires me to help strengthen the bank's mission to make a difference in people's lives through the work of the M&T Charitable Foundation." On her approach, she emphasizes: "More important than deploying funds is deploying time and talent to ignite innovation" and "My job is to honor the legacy of what was in place at the bank, and to modernize, simplify and optimize it." Goss is passionate about equity and brings experience in actively listening to community members and relinquishing control to empower community-led solutions.

Shelley C. Drake, Chair, President & Director Provides governance oversight as the Foundation's board chair.

Joseph B. Cassidy, Vice President & Grants Manager Manages the grants process and serves as a key contact for applicants.

The Foundation emphasizes that "decisions are made locally, by the people who know their communities best," reflecting its commitment to regional program officers who understand local needs and context.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All funding requests must be submitted through the Foundation's online application portal at https://mtb.versaic.com/login. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Required Documentation:

  • IRS Determination Letter (501(c)3 status)
  • Board of Directors list
  • For requests of $10,000 or more:
    • Annual operating budget
    • List of other program donors
    • Form 990
    • Current audited financials

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a recognized 501(c)3 public charity
  • Must operate or serve individuals within cities/towns where M&T Bank conducts business across the 12-state footprint
  • Must not discriminate based on protected characteristics

Application Types:

  • Grant/Programmatic Support Requests
  • Sponsorship/Fundraising Event Requests

Decision Timeline

  • Minimum lead time: 8 weeks before decision needed
  • Processing: Applications reviewed in order received
  • Notification method: Email
  • Note: Due to high volume, processing may take longer than 8 weeks

The Foundation recommends submitting applications well in advance of funding needs to allow adequate processing time.

Success Rates

The Foundation distributed $41,196,491 across 3,306 awards in 2022, indicating broad grantmaking to many organizations. Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly disclosed. The large number of grants suggests an accessible funder, though competition for larger grants through special initiatives like the Amplify Fund may be more selective.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations are welcome to reapply for funding at any time. There are no restrictions on unsuccessful applicants reapplying, and no mandatory waiting periods between applications. Organizations may submit multiple requests for different programs or initiatives simultaneously. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with no grant cycle restrictions.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's stated evaluation criteria and recent funding patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Articulation of Need and Strategy The Foundation explicitly states: "Priority is given to applicants that most clearly articulate the needs to be addressed, the strategies to be employed in response to those needs, and a plan to demonstrate the effectiveness of those strategies." Be specific about community needs backed by data.

2. Track Record and Demonstrated Impact "Proposals are evaluated based on the organizations' history and track record of success; identified needs; and strategies to meet those needs." The Foundation seeks "nonprofits that have been operating for at least one year, or more, and are able to demonstrate measurable outcomes."

3. Community Reputation and Responsiveness The Foundation looks for "organizations that have an established positive reputation in their communities, and a history of effectively responding to current as well as emergent issues."

4. Alignment with Equity and Inclusion Under current leadership, applications demonstrating commitment to equity, serving underserved populations, and addressing systemic inequities are prioritized. Dominique Goss emphasizes the importance of "actively listening to community members" and community-centered approaches.

5. Local Impact in M&T's Footprint Organizations must serve communities where M&T Bank operates. Regional program officers make decisions, so understanding local context and priorities is crucial.

6. Recent Funding Examples: Recent grants have supported:

  • Urban League of Greater Hartford: Financial opportunity programs for economic self-reliance
  • All Our Kin, Inc.: Early childhood education and family child care programs
  • Habitat for Humanity: Homeownership initiatives
  • Community Services for Every1: Homelessness prevention ($30,000)
  • Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants: Support for immigrant communities
  • Food banks across footprint: $600,000 commitment to combat hunger

7. Community and Capacity Building Special initiatives like the Amplify Fund prioritized "mission-driven and capacity-building work, community and tenant organizing, and financial empowerment and education."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Connect with your regional program officer early - M&T uses local decision-making, so building relationships with your regional contact (listed above) can provide valuable guidance on local priorities and strengthen your application.

  • Emphasize equity and measurable outcomes - Current leadership prioritizes equity-focused work serving underserved populations. Demonstrate both your commitment to equity and your ability to measure and report impact.

  • Plan ahead for the 8-week timeline - Submit applications at least 8 weeks before you need a decision, and consider applying even earlier during high-volume periods to ensure adequate review time.

  • Demonstrate organizational stability and track record - The Foundation seeks established organizations (1+ years operating) with proven success. Highlight your history of effective community response and reputation.

  • Be specific about needs, strategies, and outcomes - Applications that clearly articulate community needs (with data), specific strategies to address them, and measurable outcomes receive priority consideration.

  • Show you understand M&T's mission of "partnering with communities" - Frame your work as a partnership rather than a transaction. Demonstrate community engagement and that solutions come from community members rather than being prescribed externally.

  • Consider multiple funding opportunities - You can submit applications for different programs simultaneously, including both programmatic grants and event sponsorships, as needs arise throughout the year.

References

  1. M&T Charitable Foundation official website. "Charitable Foundation." M&T Bank. https://www.mtb.com/about-us/getting-involved/giving-back/charitable-foundation (Accessed January 14, 2025)

  2. M&T Charitable Foundation. "Corporate Charitable Contributions Contacts." M&T Bank. https://www.mtb.com/about-us/getting-involved/giving-back/contacts (Accessed January 14, 2025)

  3. M&T Bank Newsroom. "M&T Charitable Foundation Announces $4.9 Million in Grants to 51 Nonprofits Across New England, Long Island, and Westchester County, NY." April 1, 2025. https://newsroom.mtb.com/2025-04-01-M-T-CHARITABLE-FOUNDATION-ANNOUNCES-4-9-MILLION-IN-GRANTS-TO-51-NONPROFITS-ACROSS-NEW-ENGLAND,-LONG-ISLAND,-AND-WESTCHESTER-COUNTY,-NY (Accessed January 14, 2025)

  4. M&T Bank Newsroom. "30 & 30 Giving Initiative Gives $900,000 to Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention Programs Across the Country." March 27, 2024. https://newsroom.mtb.com/2024-03-27-30-30-GIVING-INITIATIVE-GIVES-900,000-TO-AFFORDABLE-HOUSING-AND-HOMELESSNESS-PREVENTION-PROGRAMS-ACROSS-THE-COUNTRY (Accessed January 14, 2025)

  5. M&T Bank Newsroom. "M&T Bank Names Dominique Goss Executive Director of M&T Charitable Foundation." July 18, 2022. https://newsroom.mtb.com/2022-07-18-M-T-Bank-Names-Dominique-Goss-Executive-Director-of-M-T-Charitable-Foundation (Accessed January 14, 2025)

  6. Generocity Philly. "5 questions with Dominique Goss, M&T Charitable Foundation's new executive director." August 9, 2022. https://generocity.org/philly/2022/08/09/dominique-goss-philanthropy/ (Accessed January 14, 2025)

  7. Cause IQ. "M&T Charitable Foundation | Buffalo, NY." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/m-and-t-charitable-foundation,161448017/ (Accessed January 14, 2025)

  8. Instrumentl. "M & T Charitable Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 990 Report." https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/m-t-charitable-foundation (Accessed January 14, 2025)

  9. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "M & T Charitable Foundation." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/161448017 (Accessed January 14, 2025)

← Back to US Funders Directory